Tape drive apparatus, method and computer program product

Abstract

A validity time interval for backup data of a data backup operation is determined. The validity time interval is limited, e.g., by an expiration date and/or an activation date. Validity date indicating the validity time interval is stored in non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge, such as a cartridge memory, when the backup data is written to the tape cartridge by the tape drive. Recovery of the backup data from the tape drive is only possible if recovery is performed within the validity time interval, to provide an efficient way to assure tape rotation.

1 . A tape drive apparatus comprising: 
 an interface for receiving validity data from a backup application program, the validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of backup data,    a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded tape cartridge and the tape drive apparatus, the data transfer apparatus being arranged to write the validity data to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge.    
   
   
       2 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the validity data including an indication of an expiry date.  
   
   
       3 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the validity data including an indication of an activation date.  
   
   
       4 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the validity data including an indication of an activation date and an expiry date.  
   
   
       5 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the interface being arranged to receive a command from the backup application program, the command comprising the validity data.  
   
   
       6 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the non-volatile memory including a tape of the tape cartridge.  
   
   
       7 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the non-volatile memory including an integrated circuit memory associated with the tape cartridge.  
   
   
       8 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 1 , the non-volatile memory including a cartridge memory.  
   
   
       9 . A computer program product for controlling a tape drive, the computer program product comprising instructions for: 
 receiving validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of backup data,    writing the backup data to a tape cartridge,    writing the validity data to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge.    
   
   
       10 . The computer program product of  claim 9  comprising an instruction for execution of a command received from a backup application program, the command comprising the validity data.  
   
   
       11 . A computer backup application program product comprising instructions for sending backup data to a tape drive apparatus, the backup data comprising validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of the backup data.  
   
   
       12 . The computer backup application program product of  claim 11 , the instructions comprising a command for sending of the validity data to an interface of the tape drive apparatus.  
   
   
       13 . A tape drive apparatus comprising: 
 a time reference,    a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded tape cartridge and the tape drive apparatus, the data transfer apparatus being adapted to read validity data including an indication of a validity time interval from a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge,    a control apparatus coupled to the time reference and to the data transfer apparatus, the control apparatus being arranged to disable usage of the tape cartridge if a current time given by the time reference is not within the validity time interval.    
   
   
       14 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 13 , the control apparatus being arranged to automatically initiate destruction of backup data stored on the tape cartridge if the current time is past the upper limit of the validity time interval.  
   
   
       15 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 14 , the control apparatus being arranged to automatically initiate destruction of the backup data by an overwrite operation.  
   
   
       16 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 13 , the control apparatus being arranged to initiate destruction of the backup data by writing an end of data mark at the beginning of the tape of the tape cartridge.  
   
   
       17 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the time reference includes a real-time clock (RTC).  
   
   
       18 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing a manufacturing time, the control apparatus being arranged to temporarily disable the tape drive if a pre-defined lifetime after the manufacturing time is exceeded.  
   
   
       19 . A computer program product for controlling a tape drive, the computer program product being arranged to control the tape drive to: 
 receive a current time from a time reference,    receive validity data including an indication of a validity time interval from a non-volatile memory of a tape loaded in a data transfer apparatus of the tape drive,    disable use of the tape cartridge if the current time is not within the validity time interval.    
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , being arranged to control the tape drive to automatically destroy backup data stored on the tape cartridge if the current time is past an upper limit of the validity time interval.  
   
   
       21 . A method of storing backup data on a tape cartridge comprising: 
 receiving backup data from a backup application program,    writing the backup data to a tape cartridge,    receiving validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of the backup data, and    writing the validity data to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge.    
   
   
       22 . A method of reading backup data from a tape cartridge, comprising: 
 reading validity data including an indication of a validity time interval from a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge, and    enabling a read operation for reading the backup data from the tape cartridge if the current time is within the validity time interval.    
   
   
       23 . A secondary storage device for storing data on a removable storage medium, the secondary storage device comprising: 
 means for receiving validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of the data, and    means for storing the data and the validity data on a secondary storage medium.    
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for reading data from a secondary storage medium, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for reading validity data including an indication of a validity time interval of the data from a non-volatile memory of the secondary storage medium, and    means for enabling usage of the secondary storage medium if the current time is within the validity time interval.    
   
   
       25 . A tape drive apparatus comprising: 
 a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded write-once tape cartridge and the tape drive apparatus,    a control apparatus coupled to the data transfer apparatus, the control apparatus being arranged to determine whether the tape cartridge is unused, and if so, to write a data storage time to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge.    
   
   
       26 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a time reference coupled to the control apparatus, the control apparatus being arranged to write a time stamp to the non-volatile memory.  
   
   
       27 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 25 , the control apparatus being arranged to write control information regarding the tape cartridge status in response to the data storage time being exceeded.  
   
   
       28 . A computer program product for controlling a tape drive, the computer program product being arranged to control the tape drive to: 
 determine whether a loaded write-once tape cartridge is unused,    writing a data storage time to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge, if the tape cartridge is unused.    
   
   
       29 . A tape drive apparatus comprising: 
 a time reference,    a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded write-once tape cartridge and the tape drive apparatus, the tape drive apparatus being arranged to read the data storage time stored in non-volatile memory associated with the tape cartridge,    a control apparatus coupled to the time reference and to the data transfer apparatus, the control apparatus being arranged to determine the tape cartridge status based on the current time and the data storage time.    
   
   
       30 . The tape drive apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the control apparatus is arranged to read control information from the non-volatile memory and to determine the status using the control information.  
   
   
       31 . A computer program product for controlling a tape drive, the computer program product being arranged to: 
 read a data storage time from a non-volatile memory or a write-once tape cartridge,    determine the status of the tape cartridge if the data storage time is exceeded.    
   
   
       32 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , the computer program product being arranged to write a tape alert flag to the non-volatile memory to indicate the status of the tape cartridge after the data storage time has been exceeded.  
   
   
       33 . A tape drive apparatus comprising: 
 a data transfer apparatus for transferring data between a loaded write-once tape cartridge and the tape drive apparatus,    a control apparatus coupled to the data transfer apparatus, the control apparatus being arranged to write a data storage time to a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge.